Those of us situated in the United Kingdom may well be interested to know that the BBC's flagship business show, The Money Programme, will this Friday be turning its attention to the increasingly lucrative world of online worlds.

From the TV listing:

Millions of us are opting out of real life and signing up to "live" in vitual reality computer worlds instead - and there is a fortune to be made there. Multi-nationals like Reebok, Nissan and Calvin Klein are now also getting in on the act. The Money Programme's Max Flint sets up shop in the cyber world and finds out how it's possible to live a virtual life and make a real fortune.

There are two points of focus in this paticular episode. The first concentrates on the likes of Second Life and how numerous business have created a virtual presence in the world. The second focuses on the business of more 'traditional' MMOs such as World Of Warcraft, and the ever-present culture of real money trading.

The show will also be the first BBC television programme to be broadcast in Second Life. SL players can watch at Rivers Run Red's cinema, coordinates 200, 123, 45.

This isn't the first time The Money Programme has touched on games, nor is it the BBC's first brush with Second Life. TMP rated Microsoft's chances with the xBox 360 last November, Newsnight produced a segment in it, and the BBC simulcast audio from a music event into the SL metaverse in 2006.

The show goes out on BBC Two this Friday, June 1 at 7PM, and you can also catch it in SL at Rivers Run Red at 7PM GMT, and again at 8PM and 9PM.

-Reporting from the sofa, GP UK Correspondent Mark Kelly